Display panel, manufacturing method thereof, and electronic device

Abstract

The present application discloses a display panel, a manufacturing method thereof, and an electronic device. By setting the heights of the first electrodes to be not completely the same, for adjacent first electrodes with different heights, the lateral distance between the two can be shortened, and the short-circuit problem of the corresponding light-emitting elements of the two can be avoided, thereby improving the resolution of the display panel. Moreover, by setting the pixel definition layer to have a block, the block is located between two adjacent pixel apertures, and the distances from the surface of the block facing away from the array substrate to the bottoms of the two adjacent pixel apertures are different. In this way, the length of the common organic layer and the length of the second electrode layer between the two adjacent pixel apertures can be increased, thereby increasing the impedance of the common organic layer and the impedance of the second electrode layer between the two light-emitting elements, reducing the lateral leakage current, and improving the display quality.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of electronic devices, and more specifically, to a display panel, a manufacturing method thereof, and an electronic device. Background Art

[0002] With the continuous development of science and technology, more and more electronic devices with display functions are widely used in people's daily lives and work, bringing great convenience to people's daily lives and work and becoming an indispensable important tool for people today.

[0003] The main component for an electronic device to achieve a display function is a display panel. The OLED display panel does not require a backlight, can emit light actively, and has many advantages such as high contrast ratio, thin thickness, wide viewing angle, fast response speed, can be used for flexible panels, wide operating temperature range, and relatively simple structure and manufacturing process, becoming one of the mainstream display panels today.

[0004] With the continuous increase in the resolution of the display panel, the distance between sub-pixels in the OLED display panel becomes closer and closer, resulting in a large lateral leakage current between sub-pixels in the OLED display panel, affecting the display effect. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of this, the present application provides a display panel, a manufacturing method thereof, and an electronic device, and the solutions are as follows:

[0006] A display panel, the display panel has a display area and a border area surrounding the display area, and the display panel includes:

[0007] An array substrate;

[0008] A first conductive layer disposed on the array substrate, the first conductive layer includes a plurality of first electrodes, and the heights of the first electrodes are not completely the same; wherein, the height is the distance relative to the array substrate;

[0009] A pixel definition layer disposed on the side of the first conductive layer facing away from the array substrate, the pixel definition layer has a plurality of pixel openings corresponding to the first electrodes one by one, and the pixel openings are used to expose the first electrodes;

[0010] A display array located in the display area, the display array has a plurality of light-emitting elements; the light-emitting elements include a light-emitting functional layer and a common organic layer stacked; the light-emitting functional layer is located within the pixel openings; the common organic layer of the light-emitting elements is the same film layer, covering the pixel definition layer between two adjacent pixel openings;

[0011] A second conductive layer covering the display array, the second conductive layer serves as a common second electrode for the light-emitting elements;

[0012] Among them, the pixel definition layer has at least one block, the block is located between two adjacent pixel openings, and the distances from the surface of the block facing away from the array substrate to the bottoms of the two adjacent pixel openings are different.

[0013] The technical solution of this application also provides an electronic device, including the above display panel.

[0014] The technical solution of this application also provides a method for manufacturing a display panel, including:

[0015] Providing an array substrate;

[0016] Forming a first conductive layer on the array substrate, the first conductive layer includes a plurality of first electrodes, and the heights of the first electrodes are not completely the same; wherein, the height is the distance relative to the array substrate;

[0017] Forming a pixel definition layer on the first conductive layer, the pixel definition layer has a plurality of pixel openings corresponding to the first electrodes one by one, and the pixel openings are used to expose the first electrodes;

[0018] Forming a display array in the display area, the display array has a plurality of light-emitting elements; the light-emitting elements include a stacked light-emitting functional layer and a common organic layer; the light-emitting functional layer is located within the pixel opening; the common organic layer of the light-emitting element is the same film layer, covering the pixel definition layer between two adjacent pixel openings;

[0019] Forming a second conductive layer covering the display array, the second conductive layer serves as a common second electrode for the light-emitting elements;

[0020] Among them, the pixel definition layer has at least one block, the block is located between two adjacent pixel openings, and the distances from the surface of the block facing away from the array substrate to the bottoms of the two adjacent pixel openings are different.

[0021] It can be seen from the above description that in the display panel, manufacturing method and electronic device provided by the technical solution of this application, the heights of the first electrodes are not completely the same. For two adjacent first electrodes with different heights, the lateral distance between them can be shortened, and the short-circuit problem of the corresponding light-emitting elements can be avoided, which can improve the resolution of the display panel. Moreover, the pixel definition layer is provided with blocks, the blocks are located between two adjacent pixel openings, and the distances from the surface of the block facing away from the array substrate to the bottoms of the two adjacent pixel openings are different. Thus, the length of the common organic layer and the length of the second electrode layer between the two adjacent pixel openings can be increased, thereby increasing the impedance of the common organic layer and the impedance of the second electrode layer between the two light-emitting elements, reducing the lateral leakage current, and improving the display quality. Description of the Drawings

[0022] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application or related technologies, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments or the prior art. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only the embodiments of the present application. For those of ordinary skill in the art, without creative efforts, other drawings can also be obtained based on the provided drawings.

[0023] The structures, ratios, sizes, etc. shown in the drawings of this specification are only used to cooperate with the content disclosed in the specification for those familiar with this technology to understand and read, and are not used to limit the conditions for the implementation of the present application. Therefore, they do not have a substantial technical meaning. Any modification of the structure, change in the proportional relationship, or adjustment of the size, without affecting the effects that the present application can produce and the purposes that can be achieved, should still fall within the scope that can be covered by the technical content disclosed in the present application.

[0024] Figure 1 It is a cross-sectional view of a conventional OLED display panel;

[0025] Figure 2 It is Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the principle that the shown display panel cannot further improve the aperture ratio;

[0026] Figure 3 It is a cross-sectional view of a display panel provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0027] Figure 4 It is Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the principle that the shown display panel reduces lateral leakage current;

[0028] Figure 5 It is Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the principle that the shown display panel can improve the aperture ratio;

[0029] Figure 6 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of a light-emitting element provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0030] Figure 7 It is a cross-sectional view of another display panel provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0031] Figure 8 It is a cross-sectional view of yet another display panel provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0032] Figure 9 It is a cross-sectional view of yet another display panel provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0033] Figure 10 It is a cross-sectional view of yet another display panel provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0034] Figure 11Another cross-sectional view of a display panel provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0035] Figure 12 Another cross-sectional view of a display panel provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0036] Figure 13 Another cross-sectional view of a display panel provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0037] Figure 14 Another cross-sectional view of a display panel provided by an embodiment of the application;

[0038] Figure 15 Schematic diagram of the arrangement of pixel units in a display panel provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0039] Figure 16 Another cross-sectional view of a display panel provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0040] Figure 17 Cross-sectional view of a display panel in the border area provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0041] Figure 18 Schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0042] Figure 19 Schematic flow chart of a manufacturing method provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0043] Figure 20 Flow chart of the method for forming the first conductive layer provided by an embodiment of the present application. Detailed implementation manners

[0044] Next, with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application, the embodiments in the present application will be clearly and completely described. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0045] As Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown, Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional OLED display panel, Figure 2 is Figure 1Schematic diagram of the principle that the shown display panel cannot further improve the aperture ratio. The shown OLED display panel includes: an array substrate 10 having pixel circuits; a first electrode layer disposed on the array substrate 10, including a plurality of anodes 11, and the anodes 11 are connected to the pixel circuits through through-holes; a pixel definition layer 12 disposed on the first electrode layer 11, and the pixel definition layer 12 has pixel openings 14 exposing the anodes 11; and a light-emitting functional layer 13 located within the pixel openings 14.

[0046] In the shown display panel, the light-emitting element is an OLED sub-pixel. In the direction perpendicular to the display panel, the OLED sub-pixel includes an anode 11, a first common organic layer, a light-emitting functional layer, a second common organic layer, and a cathode that are sequentially stacked. The first common organic layer, the second common organic layer, and the cathode are all planar structures and are shared by all OLED sub-pixels. The first common organic layer includes a hole injection layer and a hole transport layer that are sequentially disposed in the stacking direction, and the second common organic layer includes an electron transport layer and an electron injection layer that are sequentially disposed in the stacking direction. Figure 1 Only two electrodes of the OLED sub-pixel and the light-emitting functional layer 13 located between the two electrodes are shown, and the first common organic layer and the second common organic layer are not shown.

[0047] In Figure 1 In the shown display panel, the depths of the respective pixel openings 14 are the same. There is a gap between the light-emitting functional layer 13 and the sidewalls of the pixel openings 14. Affected by the evaporation process for forming the light-emitting functional layer 13 and the accuracy of the mask plate, the width of this gap has a minimum value d1 and cannot be eliminated. Since the anodes 11 of the respective light-emitting elements are coplanar designs, in order to avoid short-circuiting of the anodes 11 of the light-emitting elements, the width of the pixel definition layer 12 between two adjacent light-emitting elements has a minimum value d2. Therefore, the distance between the light-emitting functional layers 13 of two adjacent light-emitting elements is D = 2d1 + d2. Among them, in the embodiments of the present application, the distance D between two adjacent light-emitting elements is characterized by the distance between the light-emitting functional layers 13.

[0048] Generally, D ≥ 4 μm. The value of D is relatively large, which affects the aperture ratio and causes the resolution of the panel to not be further improved. Moreover, in order to avoid lateral leakage current between two adjacent light-emitting elements, the light-emitting elements further need to further increase the value of d2, which in turn causes the value of D to further increase, and will further reduce the aperture ratio and resolution.

[0049] From the above description, it can be seen that d1 is affected by the accuracy of the mask plate and the evaporation process and cannot be eliminated, while d2 must have a relatively large value due to the coplanar design of the anodes 11, the short-circuit design between adjacent light-emitting elements, and the design for preventing lateral leakage current between two adjacent light-emitting elements, etc. Therefore Figure 1 In the structure of the shown display panel, the value of D is relatively large and cannot be reduced, making it difficult to improve the aperture ratio.

[0050] To solve the above problems, the technical solution of the present application provides a display panel, a manufacturing method thereof, and an electronic device. By setting the heights of the first electrodes to be not exactly the same, for adjacent first electrodes with different heights, the lateral distance between the two can be shortened, and the short-circuit problem of the corresponding light-emitting elements of the two can be avoided, thereby improving the resolution of the display panel. Moreover, by setting the pixel definition layer to have blocks located between two adjacent pixel openings, the distance between the surface of the block facing away from the array substrate and the bottoms of the adjacent two pixel openings is different. In this way, the length of the common organic layer and the length of the second electrode layer between the adjacent two pixel openings can be increased, thereby increasing the impedance of the common organic layer and the impedance of the second electrode layer between the two light-emitting elements, reducing the lateral leakage current, and improving the display quality.

[0051] To make the above objects, features, and advantages of the present application more obvious and understandable, the present application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0052] As Figures 3 - 5 shown, Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a display panel provided by an embodiment of the present application, Figure 4 is Figure 3 a schematic diagram of the principle of reducing lateral leakage current of the shown display panel, Figure 5 is Figure 3 a schematic diagram of the principle of improving the aperture ratio of the shown display panel. The shown display panel has a display area and a border area surrounding the display area. The display panel includes:

[0053] An array substrate 20;

[0054] A first conductive layer 21 disposed on the array substrate 20. The first conductive layer 21 includes a plurality of first electrodes 211, and the heights of the first electrodes 211 are not exactly the same; wherein, the height is the distance relative to the array substrate 20;

[0055] A pixel definition layer 22 disposed on the side of the first conductive layer 21 facing away from the array substrate 20. The pixel definition layer 22 has a plurality of pixel openings 23 corresponding to the first electrodes 211 one by one, and the pixel openings 23 are used to expose the first electrodes 211;

[0056] A display array located in the display area. The display array has a plurality of light-emitting elements; the light-emitting elements include a stacked light-emitting functional layer 24 and a common organic layer 25; the light-emitting functional layer 24 is located within the pixel openings 23; the common organic layer 25 of the light-emitting elements is the same film layer, covering the pixel definition layer 22 between two adjacent pixel openings 23;

[0057] A second conductive layer 27 covering the display array. The second conductive layer 27 serves as a common second electrode 271 for the light-emitting elements;

[0058] Among them, the pixel definition layer has at least one block 26. The block 26 is located between two adjacent pixel openings 23, and the distances from the surface 261 of the block 26 facing away from the array substrate to the bottoms of the two adjacent pixel openings 23 are different.

[0059] In the embodiment of the present application, the display panel is an OLED display panel, the light-emitting element is an OLED element, the first electrode 211 is the anode of the OLED element, and the second electrode 271 is the cathode of the OLED element.

[0060] For two light-emitting elements with different heights of the first electrode 211, the width of the block 26 between the two adjacent light-emitting elements, that is, the width d2 of the pixel definition layer between the two adjacent light-emitting elements, can be greatly shortened in the horizontal direction. Since the heights of the first electrodes 211 are different, the distance between the first electrodes 21 of the two adjacent light-emitting elements can be reduced, so that the horizontal distance between the first electrodes 211 is 0. Even in the direction perpendicular to the display panel, the two adjacent first electrodes 211 partially overlap, and there is no problem of short circuit of the first electrode 211. Therefore, the distance D between the two adjacent light-emitting elements can be effectively reduced, the aperture ratio can be increased, and then the resolution of the display panel can be improved. Moreover, since the distances from the surface 261 of the block 26 facing away from the array substrate to the bottoms of the two pixel openings 23 on both sides are different, the depths of the two pixel openings 23 can be increased to increase the height of the side wall of the block 26, so that the lengths of the common organic layer 25 covering the side wall of the block 26 and the second electrode layer 27 are both increased, thereby increasing the impedance of the common organic layer 25 between the two pixel openings 23 and the impedance of the second electrode layer 27, and reducing the lateral leakage current.

[0061] It can be seen that in the embodiment of the present application, while increasing the aperture ratio, the display panel reduces the lateral leakage current.

[0062] Among them, the common organic layer includes: a first common organic layer 251 located between the first electrode 211 and the light-emitting functional layer 24; a second common organic layer 252 located between the light-emitting functional layer 24 and the second electrode 271.

[0063] In an embodiment of the present application, there is a first insulating layer 28 between the first conductive layer 21 and the array substrate 20; the first insulating layer 28 has a plurality of steps with different heights, and the step surfaces are used to form the first electrodes 211. The first insulating layer 28 can be a single-layer film structure, and is etched once by a grayscale etching method. By different degrees of exposure, steps with different heights are formed. For example, for a step with a larger height, when performing exposure etching, the light transmittance of the corresponding exposure area of the mask plate is set to be smaller, so that the etching depth of this area is smaller, forming a step with a larger height. For a step with a smaller height, when performing exposure etching, the transmittance of the corresponding exposure area of the mask plate is set to be larger, so that the etching depth of this area is larger, forming a step with a smaller height. In this way, through the first insulating layer 28 with a single-layer film structure, a stepped structure with different heights can be formed, and the first electrodes 211 with different heights can be formed, and the process is simple.

[0064] In other embodiments, multiple first insulating layers 28 and multiple etching processes can also be used to form a plurality of steps with different heights.

[0065] In an implementation manner of the embodiment of the present application, as Figure 3 shown, the side of the pixel definition layer 22 facing away from the array substrate 20 is a plane, and this plane is parallel to the array substrate 20. The flatness of the upper surface of the pixel definition layer 22 can be ensured, which is convenient for subsequent surface encapsulation of the OLED display panel. Among them, the pixel definition layer 22 can be a single-layer film structure to simplify the manufacturing process. By setting the first insulating layers 28 with different heights, the pixel definition layer 22 can be located on the same plane, which is convenient for the evaporation of the pixel definition layer 22.

[0066] As Figure 4 shown by the dashed ellipse in the figure, both the common organic layer 25 and / or the second conductive layer 27 have portions covering the sidewalls of the block 26. As described above, since the distances from the surface 261 of the block 26 facing away from the array substrate 20 to the bottoms of the two adjacent pixel openings 23 on both sides are different, by setting the opening depths of the two pixel openings 23, the length of the second electrode layer 27 and the length of the common organic layer 25 on the sidewall of the block 26 can be increased, thereby increasing the impedance of the common organic layer 25 and the impedance of the second electrode layer 27 between the two pixel openings 23 and reducing the lateral leakage current.

[0067] In the embodiments of the present application, the common organic layer 25 of each light-emitting element is formed by synchronous deposition, and the second electrode layer 27 of each light-emitting element is formed by synchronous deposition. Within the same deposition time, for the common organic layer 25 and the second electrode layer 27 on the sidewalls of the block 26 corresponding to the pixel opening 23 with a greater depth, the thicknesses are both smaller, while for the common organic layer 25 and the second electrode layer 27 on the sidewalls of the block 26 corresponding to the pixel opening with a smaller depth, the thicknesses are both larger. This results in a thickness difference between the common organic layer 25 and the second electrode layer 27 on the sidewalls of the blocks 26 corresponding to two adjacent pixel openings 23, thereby further increasing the impedance of the common organic layer 25 and the impedance of the second electrode layer 27 between the two pixel openings 23 and reducing the lateral leakage current.

[0068] In the embodiments of the present application, the common organic layer 25 can be set to include at least one of an electron transport layer, an electron injection layer, a hole transport layer, and a hole injection layer. Optionally, the common organic layer includes a first common organic layer 251 located between the first electrode 211 and the light-emitting functional layer 24; and / or a second common organic layer 252 located between the light-emitting functional layer 24 and the second electrode 271. The technical solution of the present application can increase the lengths of the respective film layers of the common organic layer 25 and the length of the second electrode layer 27 between two adjacent light-emitting elements with different heights of the first electrode 211 in the display panel, improve the impedance, and reduce the leakage current.

[0069] As Figure 6 shown, Figure 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a light-emitting element provided by an embodiment of the present application. In this manner, the light-emitting element includes a first electrode 211 and a second electrode 271; a hole injection layer 01, a hole transport layer 02, a light-emitting functional layer 24, an electron transport layer 03, and an electron injection layer 04 stacked in sequence in a first direction. Herein, the first direction is the direction from the first electrode 211 to the second electrode 271. The first common organic layer 251 includes the hole injection layer 01 and the hole transport layer 02; the second common organic layer 252 includes the electron transport layer 03 and the electron injection layer 04.

[0070] As Figure 7 shown, Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of another display panel provided by an embodiment of the present application. In this manner, the pixel definition layer 22 includes a plurality of sub-pixel regions with different heights, and each pixel has a pixel opening 23.

[0071] Specifically, different from the scheme where the surface of the pixel definition layer 22 facing away from the array substrate 20 is in the same plane as shown in Figure 3 the manner shown in Figure 7 the surface of the pixel definition layer 22 facing away from the array substrate 20 corresponds to the first electrodes 211 with different heights and has sub-pixel regions with different heights.Figure 7 Two first electrodes 211 with different heights are shown. The first electrode 211 with a larger height on the right corresponds to a sub-pixel region with a larger height, and the first electrode 211 with a smaller height on the left corresponds to a sub-pixel region with a smaller height. By setting the pixel definition layer to have different heights in different sub-pixel regions, the height of the corresponding block 26 of two adjacent first electrodes 211 with different heights can be further adjusted, increasing the length of the sidewall common organic layer 25 and the second electrode layer 27, thereby increasing the impedance and reducing the leakage current.

[0072] In Figure 7 the shown manner, the depths of different pixel openings 23 are the same. This manner can also be etched once by the grayscale etching method, and a single-layer pixel definition layer 22 is used to form multiple sub-pixel regions with different heights. Thus, for different pixel openings 23, the same pixel definition layer is used, and the same depth parameter design is adopted, without setting multiple pixel openings 23 with different depth parameters, making the manufacturing process simple.

[0073] In other implementation manners, multiple sub-pixel regions with different heights can also be formed by a multi-layer pixel definition layer 22 and multiple etching processes.

[0074] As Figure 8 shown, Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of another display panel provided by an embodiment of the present application. In this manner, the display panel has a first light-emitting element, a second light-emitting element, and a third light-emitting element with mutually different primary light-emitting colors. It can be set that these three light-emitting elements respectively correspond to one of a red sub-pixel r, a green sub-pixel g, and a blue sub-pixel b.

[0075] Among them, the heights of the first electrodes 211 corresponding to the first light-emitting elements are the same, the heights of the first electrodes 211 corresponding to the second light-emitting elements are the same, and the heights of the first electrodes 211 corresponding to the third light-emitting elements are the same. Optionally, it can be set that the height of the first electrode 211 corresponding to the blue sub-pixel b is the largest, the height of the first electrode 211 corresponding to the red sub-pixel r is the smallest, and the height of the first electrode 211 corresponding to the green sub-pixel g is between the heights of the first electrodes 211 of the other two color sub-pixels. Setting the heights of the first electrodes 211 of the light-emitting elements of the same color to be the same is convenient for the manufacture of the first electrodes 211 and the etching of the first insulating layer 28, making the manufacturing process simple.

[0076] In an embodiment of the present application, the display array has multiple pixel groups, and each pixel group includes at least three light-emitting elements with mutually different light-emitting colors; among them, each pixel group includes multiple first electrodes 211 with not completely the same heights. In this way, not only can the pitch of the light-emitting elements be reduced, the aperture ratio be increased, and the lateral leakage current be reduced, but also the light-emitting elements can be regularly arranged through the periodic pixel groups, simplifying the manufacturing process of the display panel.

[0077] In one way, it can be as Figure 8 shown, Figure 8 A group of pixels is shown. Each group of pixels includes five light-emitting elements. In the same group of pixels, the heights of the first electrodes 211 of the light-emitting elements of the same light-emitting color are the same, and the heights of the first electrodes 211 of the light-emitting elements of different light-emitting colors are different. Specifically, the height of the first electrode 211 corresponding to the blue sub-pixel b is the largest, and the height of the first electrode 211 corresponding to the red sub-pixel r is the smallest. The upper surface of the pixel definition layer 22 is a plane. This way can not only reduce the spacing between light-emitting elements, improve the aperture ratio, and reduce the lateral leakage current, but also regularly arrange the light-emitting elements through the periodic pixel groups, simplifying the manufacturing process of the display panel.

[0078] As Figure 9 shown, Figure 9 This is a cross-sectional view of another display panel provided by an embodiment of the present application. In this way, each group of pixels includes three light-emitting elements, and the light-emitting colors of the three light-emitting elements are different from each other, such as the red sub-pixel r, the green sub-pixel g, and the blue sub-pixel b respectively. Among them, the heights of two light-emitting elements are the same and different from the height of the other light-emitting element. The upper surface of the pixel definition layer 22 is a plane. Specifically, the height of the first electrode 211 corresponding to the green sub-pixel g is the largest, and the heights of the first electrodes 211 corresponding to the red sub-pixel r and the blue sub-pixel b are the same. Similarly, this way can not only reduce the spacing between light-emitting elements, improve the aperture ratio, and reduce the lateral leakage current, but also regularly arrange the light-emitting elements through the periodic pixel groups, simplifying the manufacturing process of the display panel.

[0079] As Figure 10 shown, Figure 10 This is a cross-sectional view of another display panel provided by an embodiment of the present application. In this way, in the same group of pixels, there are three light-emitting elements, and the light-emitting elements are arranged in sequence in the direction parallel to the array substrate 20, and the height of the first electrode 211 gradually increases. The upper surface of the pixel definition layer 22 is a plane. Specifically, the height of the first electrode 211 corresponding to the red sub-pixel r is the smallest, and the height of the first electrode b corresponding to the blue sub-pixel b is the largest. In other ways, the height of the first electrode 211 can also be set to gradually decrease. Similarly, this way can not only reduce the spacing between light-emitting elements, improve the aperture ratio, and reduce the lateral leakage current, but also regularly arrange the light-emitting elements through the periodic pixel groups, simplifying the manufacturing process of the display panel.

[0080] As Figure 11 shown, Figure 11Another cross-sectional view of a display panel provided by an embodiment of the present application. In this method, in the same pixel group, there are six light-emitting elements, and the light-emitting elements are arranged in sequence in a direction parallel to the array substrate 20. The height of the first electrode 211 gradually increases, and the upper surface of the pixel definition layer 22 is a plane. Specifically, the heights of the six light-emitting elements increase in sequence, including two red sub-pixels r, two blue sub-pixels b, and two green sub-pixels g. In other methods, the height of the first electrode 211 can also be set to gradually decrease. Similarly, this method can not only reduce the spacing between light-emitting elements, improve the aperture ratio, and reduce the lateral leakage current, but also simplify the manufacturing process of the display panel by regularly arranging the light-emitting elements through periodic pixel groups.

[0081] As Figure 12 shown, Figure 12 Another cross-sectional view of a display panel provided by an embodiment of the present application. In this method, in the same pixel group, there are five light-emitting elements with different light-emitting colors, and each light-emitting element corresponds to one of the red sub-pixel r, the green sub-pixel g, and the blue sub-pixel b. The upper surface of the pixel definition layer 22 is a plane. Optionally, the height of the first electrode 211 corresponding to the blue sub-pixel b can be set to be the smallest, the height of the first electrode 211 corresponding to the red sub-pixel r can be set to be the largest, and the height of the first electrode 211 corresponding to the green sub-pixel g is located between the heights of the first electrodes 211 of the other two color sub-pixels. This method can not only reduce the spacing between light-emitting elements, improve the aperture ratio, and reduce the lateral leakage current, but also simplify the manufacturing process of the display panel by regularly arranging the light-emitting elements through periodic pixel groups.

[0082] In Figures 8 - 12 the method shown, the upper surface of the pixel definition layer 22 is used as a plane to schematically show each pixel group. In other embodiments, the upper surface of the pixel definition layer 22 can also be set as a stepped structure, that is, the pixel definition layer 22 includes multiple sub-pixel regions with different heights, and each pixel has a pixel opening 23.

[0083] As Figure 13 shown, Figure 13 Another cross-sectional view of a display panel provided by an embodiment of the present application. The pixel definition layer 22 includes multiple sub-pixel regions with different heights, and each pixel has a pixel opening 23. This method can not only reduce the spacing between light-emitting elements, improve the aperture ratio, and reduce the lateral leakage current, but also simplify the manufacturing process of the display panel by regularly arranging the light-emitting elements through periodic pixel groups.

[0084] As Figure 14 , Figure 14 Another cross-sectional view of a display panel provided by an embodiment of the application, different from the Figure 8 method shown in that Figure 14In this manner, the pixel definition layer 22 includes multiple sub-pixel regions with different heights, and each pixel has a pixel opening 23. Similarly, this manner can not only reduce the spacing between light-emitting elements, improve the aperture ratio, and reduce the lateral leakage current, but also regularly arrange the light-emitting elements through periodic pixel groups, simplifying the manufacturing process of the display panel.

[0085] When the pixel definition layer 22 includes multiple sub-pixel regions with different heights and each pixel has a pixel opening 23, its layout manner is not limited to Figure 13 and Figure 14 shown, and on the basis of any one of the manners, it can be set that the pixel definition layer 22 includes multiple sub-pixel regions with different heights, and each pixel has a pixel opening 23. The embodiments of the present application will not be illustrated one by one. Figures 8 - 12

[0086] When the pixel definition layer 22 includes multiple sub-pixel regions with different heights and each pixel has a pixel opening 23, by forming the first insulating layer 28 with different thicknesses, the pixel openings 23 in the sub-pixel regions of the corresponding pixel definition layer 22 can be at different heights, so that the light-emitting functional layer is at different heights. At this time, the depths of the respective pixel openings 23 can be set to be the same.

[0087] When the pixel definition layer 22 includes multiple sub-pixel regions with different heights and each pixel has a pixel opening 23, in the same pixel group, if the heights of the first electrodes 211 corresponding to the respective light-emitting elements are different from each other, the heights of the sub-pixel regions of the corresponding pixel definition layer 211 are also different from each other. If the heights of the first electrodes 211 corresponding to the light-emitting elements are the same, the heights of the sub-pixel regions of the corresponding pixel definition layer 211 are also the same.

[0088] It should be noted that in the embodiments of the present application, the number and layout manner of the light-emitting elements in the same pixel group can be set based on requirements and are not limited to the illustrated manner in the embodiments of the present application.

[0089] In the embodiments of the present application, as shown in the above Figure 9 manner, in the same pixel group, a part of the first electrodes 211 can be located at the first height and another part of the first electrodes 211 can be located at the second height, and the first height is different from the second height. In the same pixel group, only the first insulating layer 28 needs to have two stepped structures with different heights to form the first electrodes 211 at the first height and the second height, and the manufacturing process is simple.

[0090] Figure 10 In the embodiments of the present application, as shown in the above Figure 10As shown in the figure, in the same pixel group, there are three light-emitting elements with different light-emitting colors. These three light-emitting elements are arranged in sequence in a direction parallel to the array substrate 20, and the heights of any two adjacent first electrodes 211 are different. In the same pixel group, only the first insulating layer 28 needs to have three stepped structures with different heights to form three first electrodes 211 with different heights, and the manufacturing process is simple. The three light-emitting elements in the same pixel group can be a red sub-pixel r, a green sub-pixel g, and a blue sub-pixel b respectively. The height of the first electrode 211 corresponding to the blue sub-pixel b is set to be the largest, and the height of the first electrode 211 corresponding to the green sub-pixel g is set to be the smallest. For OLED elements, since the brightness attenuation rates of different-color OLEDs are different, and the brightness attenuation rate of the blue OLED is the largest and that of the green OLED is the slowest, setting the height of the first electrode 211 corresponding to the blue sub-pixel b to be the largest can make its distance from the light-emitting surface of the display panel the smallest, and can, to a certain extent, improve the display color deviation problem caused by the relatively large brightness attenuation rate of the blue sub-pixel b.

[0091] Based on the above description, in order to reduce the display color deviation problem caused by the relatively large brightness attenuation of the blue sub-pixel b, in the embodiments of the present application, at least some of the first electrodes 211 corresponding to the blue sub-pixel b are set to have the largest height.

[0092] Optionally, the height difference between different first electrodes 211 is set not to exceed 4 μm to avoid the excessive thickness of the display panel. The thickness range of the first insulating layer 28 under the first electrode 211 with the smallest height is 1 μm - 2 μm, and the thickness of the first insulating layer 28 under the first electrode 211 with the smallest height does not exceed 5 μm. While meeting the design of different heights of the first electrodes 211 and improving the aperture ratio, it can also ensure that the display panel has a relatively thin thickness.

[0093] In the embodiments of the present application, the display array includes a plurality of pixel units, and each pixel unit includes three light-emitting elements with different light-emitting colors, such as a red light-emitting element r, a blue light-emitting element, and a green light-emitting element g. The arrangement manner of the light-emitting units in the pixel unit can be as Figure 15 shown.

[0094] As Figure 15 shown, Figure 15 is a schematic diagram of the arrangement of pixel units in a display panel provided by an embodiment of the present application. Figure 15 In the left figure, both pixel units have independent red light-emitting elements r and green light-emitting elements g, and share the same blue light-emitting element b. The size of the blue light-emitting element b is larger than that of the red light-emitting element r and the green light-emitting element g. By sharing the blue light-emitting element b in this way, the risk of color mixing can be reduced.

[0095] Moreover, in two adjacent pixel units, the common arrangement of the blue light-emitting elements b can improve the aperture ratio of the blue light-emitting elements b, extend the lifespan of the blue light-emitting elements b, and in combination with the layout of the first signal lines in the step structure of the subsequent embodiments, save the wiring space in the border area, and enable a high-resolution display panel.

[0096] Figure 15 In the right figure, both pixel units independently have light-emitting elements of three colors, and this method can improve the fineness of the display.

[0097] As Figure 16 shown, Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view of another display panel provided by an embodiment of the present application. The display panel has a display area A and a border area B. The first conductive layer 21 further includes a first signal line 212, and the first signal line 212 is located in the border area B; the second electrode 271 is connected to the first signal line 212. In this method, the first signal line 212 and the first electrode 211 are on the same layer, and the first signal line 212 is prepared by multiplexing the first conductive layer 21, without separately manufacturing the first signal line 212 through a conductive layer. The manufacturing process is simple and does not increase the thickness of the display panel.

[0098] The array substrate 20 includes a third conductor 30. The third conductive layer includes the source and drain electrodes of the thin-film transistors in the pixel circuit, and also includes a second signal line 301. The first signal line 212 is connected to the second signal line 301 through a via 29. The third signal line 301 is used to provide a common voltage for the second electrode 271 to control the display panel to emit light for display.

[0099] As Figure 17 shown, Figure 17 is a cross-sectional view of a display panel provided by an embodiment of the present application in the border area. In this method, there are multiple first signal lines 212, and the heights of the first signal lines 212 are not completely the same. By arranging the first signal lines 212 in layers, the lateral distance between the first signal lines 212 can be shortened, the border width can be reduced, and it is convenient to achieve a narrow border design.

[0100] Optionally, each first signal line 212 is provided with at least one first electrode 211 having the same height, so that each first signal line 212 has a corresponding first electrode 211 on the same layer, reducing the number of steps with different heights for setting the signal line 212 and the first electrode 211, thereby reducing the thickness of the display panel and simplifying the manufacturing process.

[0101] In the border area B, the second conductive layer 27 is connected to the first signal line 212, and the first signal line 212 is connected to the second signal line 301 through a via 29, thereby inputting a common voltage to the second conductive layer 27.

[0102] As can be seen from the above description, in the embodiments of the present application, by providing the first electrodes 211 with different heights, the aperture ratio can be increased, thereby improving the resolution of the display panel. Moreover, the length of the common organic layer 251 and the second conductive layer 27 between two adjacent light-emitting elements corresponding to the two first electrodes with different heights can be increased to increase the impedance, thereby reducing the lateral leakage current and solving the problem of light leakage of the light-emitting element during the non-light-emitting stage caused by the lateral leakage current.

[0103] Based on the above embodiments, another embodiment of the present application further provides an electronic device, such as Figure 18 shown Figure 18 is a schematic structural diagram of an electronic device provided by an embodiment of the present application, including the display panel 41 provided in any one of the above embodiments.

[0104] In the embodiments of the present application, the electronic device includes, but is not limited to, mobile phones, tablet computers, laptop computers, wearable devices with display functions, and home appliance devices. The electronic device has the display panel 41 provided in the above embodiments, which can increase the aperture ratio of the light-emitting elements in the display panel while reducing the lateral leakage current. Therefore, while improving the resolution of the display panel, the display problem caused by the leakage current is solved, and the display quality is improved.

[0105] Based on the above embodiments, another embodiment of the present application further provides a method for manufacturing a display panel, such as Figure 19 shown Figure 19 is a schematic flowchart of a manufacturing method provided by an embodiment of the present application, and the method includes:

[0106] Step S11: Provide an array substrate.

[0107] Step S12: Form a first conductive layer on the array substrate. The first conductive layer includes a plurality of first electrodes, and the heights of the first electrodes are not completely the same; wherein, the height is the distance relative to the array substrate.

[0108] Step S13: Form a pixel definition layer on the first conductive layer. The pixel definition layer has a plurality of pixel openings corresponding to the first electrodes one by one, and the pixel openings are used to expose the first electrodes.

[0109] Step S14: Form a display array in the display area. The display array has a plurality of light-emitting elements; the light-emitting elements include a stacked light-emitting functional layer and a common organic layer; the light-emitting functional layer is located within the pixel opening.

[0110] Among them, the common organic layer of the light-emitting element is the same film layer, covering the pixel definition layer between two adjacent pixel openings.

[0111] Step S15: Form a second conductive layer covering the display array. The second conductive layer serves as a common second electrode for the light-emitting elements.

[0112] Among them, the pixel definition layer has at least one block, the block is located between two adjacent pixel openings, and the distances from the surface of the block facing away from the array substrate to the bottoms of the two adjacent pixel openings are different. The light-emitting functional layer can be formed by an inkjet printing process.

[0113] The manufacturing method provided by the embodiments of the present application can manufacture the display panel of the above embodiments, increase the lengths of the common organic layer and the second conductive layer in the display panel, thereby increasing their impedance and reducing the lateral leakage current. Moreover, it can also improve the aperture ratio and the resolution of the display panel through the first electrodes with different heights.

[0114] As Figure 20 shown, Figure 20 is a flowchart of a method for forming a first conductive layer provided by an embodiment of the present application, including:

[0115] Step S21: Form a first insulating layer on the array substrate.

[0116] Step S22: Pattern the first insulating layer to form a plurality of steps with not completely the same height.

[0117] Step S23: Form a first conductive layer.

[0118] Step S24: Pattern the first conductive layer, and the first electrode is located on the surface of the step.

[0119] In Figure 20 the shown manner, the same layer of the first insulating layer is etched to form the steps required for setting all the first electrodes. There is no need for multiple layers of the first insulating layer, and the process is simple. It only needs to perform a single-tone etching on the first insulating layer on the basis of the existing process, and has high compatibility with the existing manufacturing process.

[0120] Optionally, the method for forming a display array includes: forming a light-emitting functional layer of a light-emitting element by an evaporation process; among them, the light-emitting functional layers of the light-emitting elements with the same light-emitting color are formed by the same evaporation; the light-emitting functional layers of the light-emitting elements with different light-emitting colors are formed by different evaporations. In this way, the light-emitting functional layers of the light-emitting elements with the same light-emitting color are formed synchronously by evaporation, reducing the process difficulty and cost.

[0121] In this specification, the various embodiments are described in a progressive, or parallel, or a combination of progressive and parallel manners. Each embodiment focuses on the differences from other embodiments. For the same or similar parts among the various embodiments, reference can be made to each other. For the electronic devices and manufacturing methods disclosed in the embodiments, since they correspond to the display panels disclosed in the embodiments, the description is relatively simple, and the relevant parts can be referred to the description in the method part.

[0122] It should be noted that in the description of this application, it should be understood that the orientation or positional relationship indicated by terms such as "upper", "lower", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc. is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings. This is only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, it should not be construed as a limitation to this application. When a component is considered to be "connected" to another component, it can be directly connected to the other component or there may be an intermediate component present at the same time.

[0123] It should also be noted that in this text, relational terms such as first and second are only used to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Moreover, the term "comprising", "including" or any other variant thereof is intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that an article or device comprising a series of elements not only includes those elements, but also includes other elements not explicitly listed, or also includes elements inherent to such article or device. Without further limitation, an element defined by the statement "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of another identical element in the article or device comprising the above elements.

[0124] The above description of the disclosed embodiments enables those skilled in the art to implement or use this application. Various modifications to these embodiments will be obvious to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein can be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this application. Therefore, this application will not be limited to these embodiments shown herein, but rather to the broadest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A display panel, characterized in that, The display panel has a display area and a border area surrounding the display area, and the display panel includes: An array substrate; A first conductive layer disposed on the array substrate, the first conductive layer including a plurality of first electrodes, the heights of the first electrodes being not completely the same, such that the lateral distance between adjacent first electrodes is 0 or partially overlapping; wherein, the height is the distance relative to the array substrate; A pixel definition layer disposed on a side of the first conductive layer facing away from the array substrate, the pixel definition layer having a plurality of pixel openings corresponding to the first electrodes one by one, the pixel openings being configured to expose the first electrodes; A display array located in the display area, the display array having a plurality of light-emitting elements; the light-emitting elements include a stacked light-emitting functional layer and a common organic layer; the light-emitting functional layer is located within the pixel openings; the common organic layer of the light-emitting elements is the same film layer, covering the pixel definition layer between adjacent two pixel openings; A second conductive layer covering the display array, the second conductive layer serving as a common second electrode for the light-emitting elements; Wherein, the pixel definition layer has at least one block, the block is located between adjacent two pixel openings, and the distance between the surface of the block facing away from the array substrate and the bottoms of the adjacent two pixel openings is different.

2. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein A first insulating layer is provided between the first conductive layer and the array substrate; The first insulating layer has a plurality of steps with not completely the same heights, and the step surfaces are used to form the first electrodes.

3. The display panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The side of the pixel definition layer facing away from the array substrate is a plane, and this plane is parallel to the array substrate.

4. The display panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The common organic layer and / or the second conductive layer both have portions covering the sidewalls of the block.

5. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein The common organic layer includes at least one of an electron transport layer, an electron injection layer, a hole transport layer, and a hole injection layer.

6. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein, The pixel definition layer includes a plurality of sub-pixel regions with different heights, and each pixel has one pixel opening.

7. The display panel according to claim 6, wherein The depths of different pixel openings are the same.

8. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein The display panel has a first light-emitting element, a second light-emitting element, and a third light-emitting element with mutually different light-emitting colors; The heights of the first electrodes corresponding to the first light-emitting elements are the same, the heights of the first electrodes corresponding to the second light-emitting elements are the same, and the heights of the first electrodes corresponding to the third light-emitting elements are the same.

9. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein The display array has a plurality of pixel groups, and each pixel group includes at least three light-emitting elements with mutually different light-emitting colors; Wherein, the pixel group includes a plurality of first electrodes with not completely the same heights.

10. The display panel according to claim 9, characterized in that, In the same pixel group, the light-emitting elements are arranged in sequence in a direction parallel to the array substrate, and the heights of the first electrodes gradually increase or gradually decrease.

11. The display panel according to claim 9, wherein, In the same pixel group, a part of the first electrodes are at a first height, and another part of the first electrodes are at a second height, and the first height is different from the second height.

12. The display panel according to claim 9, wherein In the same pixel group, there are three light-emitting elements with different light-emitting colors, and the three light-emitting elements are arranged in sequence in a direction parallel to the array substrate, and the heights of any two adjacent first electrodes are different.

13. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein the height difference between different first electrodes does not exceed 4 μm.

14. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein The first conductive layer further includes a first signal line located in the border area; the second electrode is connected to the first signal line.

15. The display panel according to claim 14, wherein There are multiple first signal lines, and the heights of the first signal lines are not completely the same.

16. The display panel according to claim 15, wherein Each first signal line corresponds to at least one first electrode with the same height.

17. An electronic device, characterized in that, It includes the display panel according to any one of claims 1-16.

18. A method for manufacturing a display panel, characterized in that, It includes: Providing an array substrate; Forming a first conductive layer on the array substrate, the first conductive layer includes a plurality of first electrodes, and the heights of the first electrodes are not completely the same, so that the lateral distance between adjacent first electrodes is 0 or partially overlapped; wherein, the height is the distance relative to the array substrate; Forming a pixel definition layer on the first conductive layer, the pixel definition layer has a plurality of pixel openings corresponding to the first electrodes one by one, and the pixel openings are used to expose the first electrodes; Forming a display array in the display area, the display array has a plurality of light-emitting elements; the light-emitting elements include a stacked light-emitting functional layer and a common organic layer; the light-emitting functional layer is located in the pixel opening; the common organic layer of the light-emitting element is the same film layer, covering the pixel definition layer between two adjacent pixel openings; Forming a second conductive layer covering the display array, and the second conductive layer serves as the common second electrode of the light-emitting elements; Wherein, the pixel definition layer has at least one block, the block is located between two adjacent pixel openings, and the distance from the surface of the block facing away from the array substrate to the bottoms of the two adjacent pixel openings is different.

19. The manufacturing method according to claim 18, wherein The method of forming the first conductive layer includes: Forming a first insulating layer on the array substrate; Patterning the first insulating layer to form a plurality of steps with different heights; Forming the first conductive layer; Patterning the first conductive layer, and the first electrode is located on the surface of the step.

20. The manufacturing method according to claim 18, characterized in that, The method of forming the display array includes: Forming the light-emitting functional layer of the light-emitting element by an evaporation process; Wherein, the light-emitting functional layers of the light-emitting elements with the same light-emitting color are formed by the same evaporation; the light-emitting functional layers of the light-emitting elements with different light-emitting colors are formed by different evaporations.

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